Automatic sprinkling system.



W. E. MONTGOMERY.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION nun AUG-l4. 1913.

Patented June 1, 1915.

IIIIIIIIIII" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. MONTGOMERY, OF LEWISTON, MAINE, ASSIGNOR T0 ROCKWOOD SPRINKLER COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLING' SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J unel, 1915.

Application filed August 14, 1918. Serial No. 784,829.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM E. Monr- GOMERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Androscoggin, State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinkling Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in automatic sprinkler systems, such as are employed for protection against fire in bulldlngs and other structures, and has particular application to means for operating an alarm when for any reason the water is cut ofi as in case of an emergency, or when repairs or extensions are being made to the sprinkler system.

In the present instance I propose to provide mechanism whereby a check or gate valve, which is located in the main pipe of the system, may be operated .or raised to permit the sounding of an alarm when the operating device cuts oil the flow of. water through such main pipe, this alarm giving notice of the stoppage of the flow.

In sprinkler systems of the character to which my invention relates, each water main of the system is provided with a gate or check valve which is normally closed by gravity, and in its closed position usually covers or shuts ofi a small alarm pipe. \Vhen the gate or check valve is lifted or opened, as when the system is in sprinkling operation and a considerable quantity of water is flowing therefrom, this cut-ofl or check valve uncovers the alarm pipe so that water may pass into the latter and operate a water motor or other mechanism which in turn sounds an alarm.

It sometimes happens that it is necessary to cut off the flow of water through the main pipe, as when repairs are being made, and in such instance, it is desirable to actuate the alarm to show that the supply of Water has been cut OH". I accomplish this in the present instance by employing a gate valve which may be moved across the bore of the pipe to shut off the flow of water therethrough, this gate valve in its movement contacting with a wing or projection formed upon the check or alarm valve so that the latter will be lifted, thereby uncovering the alarm pipe and permitting the flow of water thercthroughto actuate the alarm.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the character described which will embody in its constructron the desired features of simplicity, efiiclency, economy and convenience.

I/Vith the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in View, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and fallmg within the scope of the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 IS a vertical sectional view taken with a portion of the main pipe and valve casing, and showing the check valve in its closed position and the gate valve in open position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the gate valve in closed position and the ClIBCK valve in open position to permit the actuation of the alarm. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. I is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 with the valve shown in plan. Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail the letter A indicates the main pipe and B the valve casing therein, while C designates a branch pipe filled with water and provided with a sprinkler D, and it is to be understood that any suitable number of sprinklers are employed and may be of any ordinary and well known type.

The numeral 1 designates an alarm pipe, one end of which communicates with a bore 2 leading through the side of the Valve casing B, this bore 2 terminating at its inner end in a seat 3. The pipe 1 leads to any suitable water motor or other device, such as shown conventionally at E, this water motor actuating the water motor illustrated conventionally at F. It is to be understood that any suitable means may be employed for actuating the alarm other than the motor.

The check valve 4 ispivoted as at 5 within the valve casing B, and this check valve is normally designed in its closed position to have its front end 6 rest upon the seat 3 and cover the outlet of the bore 2 leading to the alarm pipe 1. In carrying out my invention, I form preferably integral with the casing B a gate valve casing 7, designed to house the gate valve 8 when the latter is through the alarm pipe.

withdrawn from its out ofi position across the valve casing B. The gate valve casing 7 communicates with the main valve casing B through the opening 9, and when it is desired to cut off the flow of Water through the main pipe, the valve 8 is actuated by the hand wheel 10 to move or slide said valve across the bore of the casing B. In such movement the valve 8 strikes against the wing 11 projecting from the bottom of the check valve 4 and lifts the latter valve off the seat 3 to permit the Water to flow When the check valve 8 is moved to its complete cut ofi position the free end thereof seats in the recess 12 formed in the interior wall of the casing B opposite the opening 9. As the gate valve 8 is withdrawn or moved back into its casing 7 to open the main pipe and permit the flow of water therethrough, it is move-cl away from the wing 11 so that the check valve may drop back down to its seat 3 when the pressure has been properly equalized in the pipe, and consequently the alarm will be cut off.

It will be noted that I have provided an exceedingly simple means by which the flow of water through the main pipe may be cut oil and notice simultaneously given of the fact, by actuating an alarm or indicating device.

I While I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1 The combination with a water distributing pipe, of an alarm pipe connected therecommunicating with the casing and having its inlet normally closed by the check valve, a gate valve casing communicating with the main casing, and a gate valve housed in said casing when in operative position and adapted to be actuated to cut off the flow of water through the main casing and water distributing pipe, and simultaneously lift the check valve to permit the flow of water through the Water alarm pipe. 7

3. The combination with a water distributing pipe, of a main valve casing, a check valve pivoted within the main valve casing to prevent the flow of water backward therethrough, a water alarm pipe communicating with the casing and having its inlet normall closed by the check valve, and a gate va ve housed in said casing when in operative position and adapted to be actuated to cut off the flow of water through the main casing and water distributing pipe, and simultaneously lift the check valve to permit the flow of water through the water alarm pipe.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa ture, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. MONTGOMERY. Witnesses:

EDITH M. DUNN, CHAS. B. CARTER. 

